Communications and Marketing

TEDxLakeForestCollege draws big audience

A sold-out crowd attended the first-ever TEDxLakeForestCollege held October 27 in Lily Reid Holt Memorial Chapel and more live-streamed the event that featured students, faculty, and special guests from across the country.

“It went exceptionally well,” said Hakob Parsamyan ’20, one of the organizers and the driving force behind local event. “The tickets sold out very quickly because everyone was excited to see a TEDx-type of event on our campus.” He also credits the speakers and the subject of their talks with stimulating ticket sales.

The theme for the first TEDx, “Curving the Straight Line,” was chosen to spark conversation and act as a platform for creative people to be heard loud and clear.

TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event.

TEDxLakeForestCollege was a student-run event organized by Parsamyan, director and lead organizer, and executive producer Hajar Habbal ’20, who are already making plans for next year’s event, planned for October 2018.

“The biggest reason behind organizing this event was to give a stage to the College community members (students, faculty/staff) to share some of their great ideas with others on campus and with the larger TEDx community,” Parsamyan said. “There are not many opportunities where students and faculty can share their ideas from the same stage, present their great ideas through stories or research—which can create a debate among others and inspire many people to make change locally or globally.”

TEDx, he felt, was the best format to accomplish that goal. “I figured this would be a great way both to spread the ideas of our wonderful students and faculty/staff as well as to promote the values of our College worldwide.”

The event’s official website, www.tedxlfc.com, is still receiving thousands of views every week, he added. “I am really proud that I initiated this event on campus,” he said, “and I am sure it will bring even more recognition to our College.”